Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a positive electrode having a positive-electrode current collector and a positive-electrode active-material layer; a negative electrode having a negative-electrode current collector and a negative-electrode active-material layer; a electrolyte; and an insulating tape covering a portion of the positive electrode. Furthermore, the positive-electrode current collector has an exposed section that the positive-electrode active-material layer is not disposed. In addition, at least a portion of the exposed section is covered with the insulating tape; the insulating tape has a substrate material layer and an adhesive layer; and the adhesive layer includes an adhesive agent and an insulating inorganic material.

Abstract: A battery case includes a case main body (20), a sealing body that seals an opening of the main body, and an insulating body (40) that is disposed at a part where the case body (20) and the sealing body are in contact with each other. In the battery case, an open end (22) of the case body (20) is crimped to the sealing body, and a dent (36) is formed in the sealing body by pressing the open end (22) against the sealing body.

Abstract: In a battery pack, a plurality of cells are arranged, the cells each have an outlet through which gas generated in the cell is released in one direction, each two of the cells are arranged as one unit, and the each two of the cells are arranged such that directions of gas released through the outlets of the two cells are opposite to each other.

Abstract: A battery case includes a case main body (20), a sealing body that seals an opening of the main body, and an insulating body (40) that is disposed at a part where the case body (20) and the sealing body are in contact with each other. In the battery case, an open end (22) of the case body (20) is crimped to the sealing body, and a dent (36) is formed in the sealing body by pressing the open end (22) against the sealing body.

Abstract: In a charging method for a lithium ion battery, constant current charging of the lithium ion battery is performed. The constant current charging includes at least three consecutive charging stages. The at least three consecutive charging stages include consecutive first, second, and third charging stages. The second charging stage has a set current value which is set lower than set current values of the first and third charging stages.

Abstract: In the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention, the separator includes a heat-resistant resin having chlorine atoms as an end group and the positive electrode active material includes a lithium-containing complex oxide containing aluminum atoms in its composition. Even if the chlorine atoms are liberated into the non-aqueous electrolyte, aluminum contained in the positive electrode active material is selectively leached into the non-aqueous electrolyte, thereby suppressing the leaching of other component elements. Consequently, there can be obtained a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery excellent in safety and high temperature storage characteristics.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a positive electrode having a positive electrode material mixture containing a composite lithium oxide; a negative electrode; a polyolefin separator; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a heat-resistant insulating layer interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode material mixture has an estimated heat generation rate at 200° C. of not greater than 50 W/kg. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound together with the separator and the heat-resistant insulating layer interposed therebetween.

Abstract: In a battery pack, a plurality of cells are arranged, the cells each have an outlet through which gas generated in the cell is released in one direction, each two of the cells are arranged as one unit, and the each two of the cells are arranged such that directions of gas released through the outlets of the two cells are opposite to each other.

Abstract: In a charging method for a lithium ion battery, constant current charging of the lithium ion battery is performed. The constant current charging includes at least three consecutive charging stages. The at least three consecutive charging stages include consecutive first, second, and third charging stages. The second charging stage has a set current value which is set lower than set current values of the first and third charging stages.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery that can ensure a high level of safety even when exposed to severe conditions such as a nail penetration test or crush test, and exhibit excellent output characteristics. The present invention relates to an electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery having a material mixture containing active material particles capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing lithium, and a current collector that carries the material mixture, wherein a surface of the current collector has recessed portions, and an area occupied by the recessed portions accounts for not less than 30% of an a material mixture carrying area of the current collector.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode (5), a negative electrode (6) and a porous insulation layer (7). The positive electrode (5) includes a positive electrode current collector (51) and a positive electrode mixture layer (52), and the negative electrode (6) includes a negative electrode current collector (61) and a negative electrode active material layer (62). After charging the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, when a surface of the positive electrode mixture layer (52) and a surface of the negative electrode active material layer (62) are brought in contact with each other, terminals are provided, respectively, on the positive electrode current collector (51) and the negative electrode current collector (62) and a resistance value between the terminals is measured, the resistance value is 1.6 ?·cm2 or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating an internal short circuit of a battery. An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of evaluating whether or not an internal short circuit has occurred in an electrode group in consideration of pressure applied to the electrode group. An internal short circuit evaluation apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes at least a pressure member capable of operating independently and applying pressure to at least a predetermined position of the surface of the electrode group, and a short-circuiting member that is pressed into the predetermined position. An internal short circuit evaluation apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention includes a pressure member having an integrated short-circuiting member.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-energy density nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that controls the rise in temperature during short circuiting. Used is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1, including a battery case 2, and a positive electrode plate 5 having a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode mixture layer containing a cathode material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, a negative electrode plate 6 having a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer containing an anode material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, a separator 7 held between the positive and negative electrode plates, and a nonaqueous electrolyte that are enclosed in the battery case, wherein at least one of the positive electrode plate 5 and the negative electrode plate 6 has an electrode plate resistance, as determined in the charged state in the thickness direction when pressurized at 50 kg/cm2, of 0.4 ?·cm2 or more.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a battery pack capable of securing safety by preventing A battery contained in the battery pack from entering a burning state even if the battery releases high-temperature gas in an abnormal state. An exhaust duct 1C for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery is provided and the gas is exhausted to the outside after reducing the temperature thereof in the exhaust duct 1C. A flow passage area of the exhaust duct 1C is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm2 and not more than 15 mm2 per 1 Ah of the battery capacity. The exhaust duct 1C is provided with a gas cooling portion 1L and a spark trapping portion 1M.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrode group, a case, a sealing member, and a mesh portion. The electrode group includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode opposing the positive electrode, an electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The case has an opening and contains the electrode group. The sealing member closes the opening of the case. The mesh portion is provided so as to face an exhaust hole formed in at least one of the case and the sealing member. The mesh is formed of a thermally conductive material to put off frame coming out of the exhaust hole, in case where the battery is so defective to ignite fire.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: a positive electrode having a positive electrode material mixture containing a composite lithium oxide; a negative electrode; a polyolefin separator; a non-aqueous electrolyte; and a heat-resistant insulating layer interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode material mixture has an estimated heat generation rate at 200° C. of not greater than 50 W/kg. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound together with the separator and the heat-resistant insulating layer interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a plurality of batteries; a changeover portion switching the connection between the plurality of batteries; a short-circuit battery detection portion, if an internal short-circuit is produced in any of the plurality of batteries, detecting this internal short-circuit battery; and a changeover control portion, if the short-circuit battery detection portion detects the internal short-circuit battery, allowing the changeover portion to switch the connection between the plurality of batteries in such a way that this internal short-circuit battery and at least one of the other batteries are connected in series to thereby form a closed circuit.

Abstract: A housing for containing electrode assemblies and an electrolyte includes a cover 18 having a pair of long-side ends 18e. Peripheral thinned portions 11 are formed by cutting the inner face of a top plate 18a near the long-side ends 18e in parallel with the long-side ends 18e. A central thinned portion 15 is formed by cutting the central part of the outer face of the top plate 18a in parallel with the long-side ends 18e. This facilitates the rupture of a housing 1 due to an increase of the inner pressure, while ensuring the strength of the housing 1 to withstand external pressure.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions are improved to eliminate variations in evaluation results and accurately evaluate battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions. An internal short-circuit is caused in a battery by using an internal short-circuit causing method in which battery information obtained upon the occurrence of an internal short-circuit hardly changes with the structure of the battery. At this time, the battery information is detected to accurately evaluate the safety of the battery upon the internal short-circuit and identify the safety level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery 10 including: an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator; an electrolyte; and a battery container accommodating the electrode group and the electrolyte. The battery container includes an accommodating portion 16 having an opening, and a lid sealing the opening of the accommodating portion 16. The battery container includes a liquid-retaining portion 16a retaining the electrolyte therein below the liquid surface of the electrolyte, and a gas-retaining portion 16b retaining gas therein above the liquid surface of the electrolyte. The liquid-retaining portion 16a of the side portion of the battery container is thinner than the gas-retaining portion 16b of the battery container. This suppresses scattering of fragments etc. in the event of rupture of a secondary battery due to an increase in the internal pressure. The safety of the secondary battery is thus increased.